Lake & Main April 2026 Issue

If you’re looking for a way to experience Taylorsville Lake State Park beyond the usual trail walk, the park’s Permanent Orienteering Course is one of the most interesting ways to do it. It turns the landscape into a puzzle—one that invites you to slow down, pay attention, and actually see the terrain instead of just passing through it.

Why This Course Stands Out

The course is available year‑round and includes 13 mapped control points, all located south of the main park road. Each checkpoint is marked by a brown post with a unique number, making it clear when you’ve found the right spot. The start and finish are easy to find too—just south of the park shelters.

It’s flexible: go solo, go with a friend, bring the kids, or turn it into a casual competition. No reservation, no fee, no pressure.

DOWNLOAD MAP HERE

How to Read the Map (It’s Simpler Than It Looks)

This map uses the standard orienteering color system, which makes it a lot more intuitive than most people expect:

• Brown shows the shape of the land—hills, dips, and contour lines
• Green & white show forest density
• Yellow marks clearings
• Blue is any water feature
• Black covers manmade structures and rock features

Your route is marked in purple:

• A triangle for the start
• Numbered circles for each control
• A double circle for the finish (same as the start)

Your job is simply to visit them in order. The fun comes from choosing how to get from one to the next.

The Real Appeal: You Start to Notice Everything

Orienteering changes the way you move through the park. Instead of just following a trail, you start scanning ridgelines, tree lines, clearings, and creekbeds, matching what’s in front of you with what’s on the map.

It can be surprisingly absorbing—and surprisingly calming.

A favorite tip from the course map: if you ever feel disoriented, just head due north until you reach the park road. Clean and simple.

A Good Fit for Just About Anyone

The course works well for:

• Families looking for something active and inexpensive
• Scouts and youth groups
• Couples exploring the park for the first time
• Friends who want something outdoorsy but different
• Locals who’ve done every trail and want a new challenge

It’s exactly the type of approachable, low‑barrier outdoor activity the state loves to see communities highlight.

What to Bring

Nothing fancy—just:

• Comfortable shoes
• Water
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Optional: a compass (but you don’t need one to start)

Long pants are helpful if you plan to leave the trail to reach a control point.

Ready to Try It?

Pick up or download the map, start near the park shelters, and give yourself permission to explore at your own pace. Whether you’re competitive or just curious, orienteering at Taylorsville Lake State Park is an engaging way to get outside and experience the landscape in a fresh way.

March 2026 Issue

One of the quiet joys of traveling through Spencer County is the way faith, history, and architecture are woven into the landscape. From hilltop brick sanctuaries to beloved little white country churches, our communities of worship tell stories of settlement, perseverance, and generations gathering week after week.

Faith, Memory, and Music in the Kentucky Landscape

Country and gospel music have long returned to the image of the small country church — white against green hills, where voices gathered and lives were marked by weddings, funerals, baptisms, and Sunday hymns. Even modern country music, especially Taylorsville native J.D. Shelburne’s reflects the same emotional landscape: faith, hometown pride, memory, and community.

Traditional gospel songs such as “Little White Church” have carried this imagery for generations, while modern country music has continued to draw on the same symbol. The phrase endures not because of color or size, but because it represents belonging, familiarity, and the idea of home.

Whether you are visiting for the weekend, returning home, or simply taking the scenic route, Spencer County’s churches offer a glimpse into our past and a warm welcome in the present.

Below is a guide to Sunday worship opportunities followed by an overview of our churches by denomination, including architectural character and whether a church fits the classic “little white church” tradition so many people cherish.

Sunday Worship in Spencer County (by Service Time)

• 8:00 a.m.
  • All Saints Catholic Church, Taylorsville.
    • Roman Catholic.
    • A Gothic Revival brick church built between 1830 and 1843, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 8:30 a.m.
  • Redemption Hill Baptist Church, Fisherville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A modern brick sanctuary designed for contemporary worship and family gatherings.
• 8:45 a.m.
  • River View Baptist Church, Cox’s Creek.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A mid‑century brick church with a traditional gable roof.
• 8:45 a.m.
  • First Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A historic congregation with a classic steepled sanctuary and later community additions.
• 9:00 a.m.
  • Kings Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A mid‑century brick worship hall serving a growing congregation.
• 9:45 a.m.
  • Bethlehem Baptist Church, Mt. Eden.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A stone sanctuary dating to the early 20th century, set beside a historic cemetery, with roots reaching back to the early 1800s.
• 9:45 a.m.
  • Little Mount Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A classic white frame chapel with a steeple, established in the late 1800s.
    • Little white church
• 9:45 a.m.
  • Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Campbranch), Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A rural frame church with a light exterior and traditional country appearance.
    • Little white church
• 9:45 a.m.
  • Ridgeview Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A modern church building with contemporary design elements.
• 10:00 a.m.
  • St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Fairfield.
    • Roman Catholic.
    • A brick, Gothic‑influenced church completed in 1883; one of the oldest Catholic parishes west of the Allegheny Mountains.
    • Not actually in Spencer County, but very close to the county line in Nelson County.
  • Elk Creek Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A historic brick church with a green steeple, featuring a sanctuary dating to the late 1800s and later additions.
  • Elk Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Independent Missionary Baptist.
    • A modest wood‑frame country church.
    • Little white church
  • Little Union Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A traditional white rural frame church serving its community for generations.
    • Little white church
  • Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Mt. Eden area.
    • Southern Baptist Convention (local affiliation).
    • A traditional rural frame church reflecting mid‑20th‑century country design.
    • Little white church
  • Plum Creek Baptist Church, Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A white frame church with a tall steeple, set beside its cemetery.
    • Little white church
• 11:00 a.m.
  • Second Baptist Church (Historic Second), Taylorsville.
    • Southern Baptist Convention.
    • A small historic chapel with a steeply pitched roof, originally built as Minor Chapel and later adapted.
    • Little white church
  • Taylorsville United Methodist Church, Taylorsville.
    • United Methodist.
    • A Greek Revival‑inspired brick church founded in 1833 and renovated in the late 20th century.
    • Little white church: No.
  • Risen Lord Lutheran Church, Taylorsville.
    • Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
    • A contemporary worship building constructed in the 21st century.

Churches of Spencer County by Denomination

Southern Baptist Convention churches range from large brick sanctuaries like First Baptist, Kings Baptist, Elk Creek Baptist, and Redemption Hill, to some of the county’s most beloved little white churches, including Little Mount Baptist, Little Union Baptist, Mt. Moriah Baptist, Plum Creek Baptist, Second Baptist (Historic Second), Wakefield Baptist, and likely Mt. Zion Baptist (Campbranch).

Independent Missionary Baptist representation includes Elk Creek Missionary Baptist Church, a modest wood‑frame rural chapel that fits squarely within the little white church tradition.

United Methodist presence is represented by Taylorsville United Methodist Church, a historic brick church dating to the early 19th century.

Lutheran worship in Spencer County is found at Risen Lord Lutheran Church, a modern congregation with contemporary facilities.

Roman Catholic churches include All Saints Catholic Church in Taylorsville, a Gothic Revival brick landmark from the early 1800s, and St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Fairfield, a brick Gothic‑influenced church built in 1883 with deep roots in early Kentucky Catholic history.

A Place for Everyone

From nationally significant historic churches to quiet white chapels tucked along country roads, Spencer County’s churches are more than buildings. They are living landmarks — places where music lingered after the final hymn, where roads led home, and where visitors are still welcomed today.

Event Attendance Info Here!

Welcome to the America250 Little Miss Liberty Spencer County Contest!

This fun and patriotic contest celebrates creativity, pride, and the voices of our young girls (ages 0-12) in Spencer County. Contestants should live or go to school in Spencer County. There is no formal live pageant — just submit a photo, a short video (30 seconds or less), and join us for the live winner reveal on July 4th at 4pm in the Main tent on Main Street in Taylorsville, KY!

Age Categories (Age on July 4, 2026)

• Tiny Miss Liberty (0–4)
• Mini Miss Liberty (5–8)
• Little Miss Liberty (9–12)

There will be one winner for each category, and one overall winner. There are no prizes and no participation gifts. There will be a certificate for each winner and the pride of being recognized in front of their community.

How to Participate

1. Upload Patriotic Photo (REQUIRED) JPG or PNG only. Please upload one clear full body photo of the contestant in her most patriotic outfit or theme.
2. Upload the link to your 30 second or less, unlisted YouTube 30‑Second Video: “What Freedom Means to Me” (REQUIRED) Double check video viewing permissions before you submit. Tips: Have a friend check by sending the link to them. Try to keep your child’s face the main focus of the video. The video does not need to be fancy, just genuine.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS MIDNIGHT JUNE 4, 2026!

SUBMIT YOUR CONTESTANT HERE!